US6298379B1 - Apparatus and method for maintaining operational status in network computers during system management operations - Google Patents
Apparatus and method for maintaining operational status in network computers during system management operations Download PDFInfo
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- US6298379B1 US6298379B1 US09/259,138 US25913899A US6298379B1 US 6298379 B1 US6298379 B1 US 6298379B1 US 25913899 A US25913899 A US 25913899A US 6298379 B1 US6298379 B1 US 6298379B1
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- network computer
- signal
- control
- operational status
- instruction
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L41/00—Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
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- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F13/00—Interconnection of, or transfer of information or other signals between, memories, input/output devices or central processing units
- G06F13/38—Information transfer, e.g. on bus
- G06F13/382—Information transfer, e.g. on bus using universal interface adapter
- G06F13/385—Information transfer, e.g. on bus using universal interface adapter for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices
Definitions
- This invention relates to computer systems and, more particularly, to an apparatus and method for controlling the operational status in a network computer while critical system management operations are performed by the network computer.
- Network connections facilitate communications between the individual computers and also allow processing tasks to be distributed to the individual computers.
- Various other processing devices may be connected in a network along with one or more computers.
- a network may connect several individual computers, communications devices, environmental systems, and security systems.
- a “network” shall comprise any arrangement of processing devices in which the individual devices or systems are adapted to communicate with each other.
- a “network computer” may include any processing device which is included in the network, such as an individual personal computer for example.
- a network requires a management system for managing communications between the individual devices included in the network, and for managing processes distributed throughout the network.
- a network management system may also manage both application software and system operational software associated with the individual devices or systems included in the network.
- a network management system may be used to update or otherwise modify the startup or “boot” software on individual network computers.
- the network management system transmits a system management instruction to the selected network computers. This instruction is executed on each network computer causing each respective computer to write the desired new “boot” software code to the appropriate storage device associated with the computer.
- the network management system may require constant access to the individual devices or systems which are included in the network. This access allows the network management system to direct the individual devices or systems to perform network management operations, such as the “boot” software update described above.
- the individual devices included in the network preferably remain in an operational state at all times, ready to process instructions from the network management system.
- the apparatus includes a network interface for receiving instructions, and a processor or processing means for executing the instructions. Both the network interface and processor are associated with a network computer.
- the instructions received through the network interface include a control interrupt instruction, a system management instruction, and a release instruction.
- the processor executes the control interrupt instruction first to produce a control interrupt signal.
- An operational status controller included in the apparatus responds to the control interrupt signal by disabling local operational status control at the network computer.
- the processor next executes the system management instruction which causes the network computer to perform the desired system management operation.
- the processor executes the release instruction to produce a release signal.
- the operational status controller responds to the release signal by enabling local operational status control at the network computer.
- the network computer will include a switch which may be activated by a user to change operational states in the network computer.
- the computer may include a switching arrangement through which a user may produce an internal interrupt signal which causes an interrupt controller in the computer to issue an instruction placing the computer in a standby state.
- the interrupt controller functions as the operational status controller, responding to the control interrupt signal by becoming unresponsive to the internal interrupt signal.
- a switch associated with the network computer may be activated to provide a power-good signal which places the network computer in an active operational state. Removing the power-good signal normally places the network computer in another state, for example, turns the network computer off.
- the operational status controller includes control logic which causes the network computer to remain in the active operational state even after power-good signal is removed.
- the method of invention includes receiving the control interrupt instruction, system management instruction, and release instruction at the network computer.
- the method further includes executing the control interrupt instruction to produce the control interrupt signal, and disabling local operational status control of the network computer in response to the control interrupt signal.
- the method includes executing the system management structure to perform the desired system management operation at the network computer.
- the method includes executing the release instruction to produce the release signal, and enabling local operational status control in response to the release signal.
- FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a computer network including several network computers which embody the principles of the invention.
- FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic representation of one of the network computers shown in FIG. 1, and particularly the apparatus associated with the computer for controlling operational status at the computer.
- FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing a method embodying the principles of the invention for maintaining the operational status of a network computer during system management operations.
- FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic representation of one of the network computers shown FIG. 1, but with an alternate switching arrangement for switching the operational status of the network computer.
- FIG. 1 shows a computer network 10 including a network management computer or server 11 and a plurality of network computers 12 .
- a network management computer or server 11 and a plurality of network computers 12 .
- three network computers 12 are shown for purposes of illustrating the invention, the invention is applicable to networks having any number of network computers or other devices.
- a hub and spoke type network is illustrated, the invention is applicable to any arrangement by which network management computer 11 may communicate with network computers 12 .
- each network computer 12 may perform system management operations as dictated by instructions communicated from network management computer 11 .
- each network computer 12 includes a network interface 15 , a processor 16 , and an operational status controller shown generally at reference number 17 .
- Network interface 15 may comprise any suitable interface apparatus which is compatible with the particular network protocol employed for network communications, and may commonly comprise a suitable network card installed in the respective network computer 12 .
- Network communications are transmitted over a suitable communications medium shown as line 18 in FIGS. 1 and 2.
- Line 18 may refer to a physical transmission line or a wireless transmission path.
- Processor 16 comprises the central processing unit (CPU) of the respective network computer 12 , and operates to execute instructions received through network interface 15 .
- processor 16 has associated with it random access memory “RAM” along with other memory and storage systems and other associated devices.
- operational status controller 17 includes an OR gate 20 .
- a first input to OR gate 20 is connected to line 26 and may receive a power-good voltage signal from power supply 22 through a user operated switch 23 .
- a second input to OR gate 20 is connected to receive a hold signal through line 24 .
- the hold signal may be a general purpose output GPO from processor 16 or units associated with the processor.
- the output 27 from OR gate 20 is connected to a switching element 25 which comprises a relay or other suitable switching device. Switching element 25 controls power to the network computer 12 from the system power supply 22 .
- line 28 from switching element 25 is connected to a power bus that directs power to the various components of the network computer.
- OR gate 20 includes power connections with are not shown in the figures, and remains operational as long as power is available to the network computer 12 .
- network computer 12 first receives instructions from network management computer 11 . These instructions are received through interface 15 and include a control interrupt instruction, a system management instruction, and a release instruction. Each instruction comprises software code which is stored on any suitable memory arrangement associated with the respective network computer 12 .
- processor 16 executes the control interrupt instruction before the system management and release instructions. Executing the control interrupt instruction results in a control interrupt signal which affects the operation of operational status controller 17 .
- the control interrupt instruction may comprise a call to firmware associated with network computer 12 . Processor 16 then executes the selected firmware instruction to produce a control interrupt signal.
- the control interrupt instruction may comprise an application which processor 16 executes directly to produce the control interrupt signal, or direct an associated unit to produce the control interrupt signal.
- the control interrupt signal disables local operational status control at network computer 12 .
- Disabling “local operational status control” in this sense means disabling the switch by which the computer may be turned “off” or placed in some inactive state. Once disabled, the computer 12 does not turn “off” or go to an inactive state even if the switch is activated at the computer.
- the control interrupt signal comprises, or results in, a logical “high” level general purpose output (GPO), or hold signal, applied on line 24 . This hold signal is ORed at OR gate 20 with the power-good signal on line 26 , and the output of this logical operation is applied to control switching element 25 .
- GPO general purpose output
- switching element 25 remains closed to provide power throughout network computer 12 , even if switch 23 is opened. In this disabled condition, network computer 12 remains in an active operational status and the user cannot turn the computer off except by physically unplugging the computer from the local power supply.
- the method continues at block 34 with the step of processing or executing the system management instruction with processor 16 .
- Executing the system management instruction causes processor 16 to perform a system management operation as shown at process block 35 .
- This operation may comprise, for example, updating the “boot” code associated with network computer 12 , or any other system management operation.
- processor 16 executes the release instruction at block 37 to produce a release signal.
- the release signal may be produced directly by processing the release instruction, or the release instruction may comprise a call to a firmware instruction which is executed to produce the release signal.
- the operational status controller 17 responds to the release signal by enabling local operational status control at block 38 .
- the release signal comprises, or produces, a logical “low” level voltage signal at line 24 .
- the power-good signal at line 26 controls the output of OR gate 20 and thus the position of switching element 25 . If user operated switch 23 is opened, the output 27 of OR gate 20 goes “low” to open switching element 25 and block power to network computer 12 .
- processor 16 may execute a report instruction as shown at process block 40 .
- the report instruction may cause network computer 12 to report back to the system management computer 11 , for example, to indicate if the particular system management operation was successfully executed.
- each instruction may comprise a number of individual software instructions.
- the release instruction may be part of a set of instructions which comprise the system management instruction.
- the control interrupt instruction, system management instruction, and release instruction may be part of a single application downloaded from system management computer 11 to execute on network computer 12 .
- FIG. 4 illustrates network computer 12 having an operational state switching arrangement 50 which may be employed as an alternative to the power supply switching arrangement shown in FIG. 2 .
- Network computer 12 shown in FIG. 4 also includes network interface 15 and processor 16 similarly to the network computer illustrated in FIG. 2 .
- Switching arrangement 50 is described in detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/234,166, filed, Jan. 21, 1999, entitled “OPERATIONAL STATE SWITCHING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR NETWORK COMPUTERS,” and still pending the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by this reference.
- This alternative switching arrangement 50 includes a switch 51 , a system reset arrangement shown generally at reference numeral 52 , and a reset disable arrangement shown generally at reference numeral 54 .
- Switching arrangement 50 also includes an internal interrupt line 55 connected to provide an internal interrupt signal to an interrupt controller 56 .
- switch 11 is biased to the open position.
- closing switch 51 produces an internal interrupt signal on line 55 to interrupt controller 56 .
- Interrupt controller 56 responds to the internal interrupt signal by directing the network computer 12 to go to a standby state. The process of going to the standby state or the standby state itself could interfere with a network management operation to be performed on the network computer 12 .
- the operational status controller comprises interrupt controller 56 .
- interrupt controller 56 responds to a control interrupt signal from processor 16 by ignoring, or becoming unresponsive to, an internal interrupt signal applied through line 55 .
- the resulting control interrupt signal at block 32 disables local operational status control in network computer 12 by causing interrupt controller 56 to become unresponsive to an internal interrupt signal. If a user activates switch 51 when interrupt controller 56 is unresponsive to an internal interrupt signal on line 55 , network computer 12 continues in its normal operational state in which it may execute system management operations.
- the release instruction is executed to produce the release signal as shown at block 37 in FIG. 3 .
- Interrupt controller 56 responds to the release signal by becoming responsive to an internal interrupt signal applied through line 55 .
- local operational status control is restored or enabled (block 38 in FIG. 3) in the network computer 12 by placing the interrupt controller 56 in a condition in which it is responsive to an internal interrupt on line 55 .
- the logic used to control switching element 25 in FIG. 2 may comprise any suitable logical operation and is not limited to the logical OR shown in the figure.
- the logical signals employed by the invention are not limited to any particular signal type or range of values.
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Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US09/259,138 US6298379B1 (en) | 1999-02-26 | 1999-02-26 | Apparatus and method for maintaining operational status in network computers during system management operations |
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US09/259,138 US6298379B1 (en) | 1999-02-26 | 1999-02-26 | Apparatus and method for maintaining operational status in network computers during system management operations |
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Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20020002672A1 (en) * | 2000-06-19 | 2002-01-03 | Alcatel | Method of rebooting terminals connected to a local area network and devices for implementing the method |
US20020087483A1 (en) * | 2000-12-29 | 2002-07-04 | Shlomi Harif | System, method and program for creating and distributing processes in a heterogeneous network |
US20020087881A1 (en) * | 2000-12-29 | 2002-07-04 | Shlomi Harif | System, method and program for identifying and binding a process in a heterogeneous network |
US6687496B1 (en) * | 2000-08-02 | 2004-02-03 | Intel Corporation | Memory programming method and system |
US20060248139A1 (en) * | 1999-12-01 | 2006-11-02 | Intel Corporation | Networked computer management with a mobile software agent |
Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4862350A (en) * | 1984-08-03 | 1989-08-29 | International Business Machines Corp. | Architecture for a distributive microprocessing system |
US5546539A (en) * | 1993-12-29 | 1996-08-13 | Intel Corporation | Method and system for updating files of a plurality of storage devices through propogation of files over a nework |
US5841988A (en) * | 1996-05-23 | 1998-11-24 | Lsi Logic Corporation | Interprocessor communications data transfer and error detection in a multiprocessing environment |
US5964891A (en) * | 1997-08-27 | 1999-10-12 | Hewlett-Packard Company | Diagnostic system for a distributed data access networked system |
US6195682B1 (en) * | 1998-10-27 | 2001-02-27 | International Business Machines Corporation | Concurrent server and method of operation having client-server affinity using exchanged client and server keys |
-
1999
- 1999-02-26 US US09/259,138 patent/US6298379B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4862350A (en) * | 1984-08-03 | 1989-08-29 | International Business Machines Corp. | Architecture for a distributive microprocessing system |
US5546539A (en) * | 1993-12-29 | 1996-08-13 | Intel Corporation | Method and system for updating files of a plurality of storage devices through propogation of files over a nework |
US5841988A (en) * | 1996-05-23 | 1998-11-24 | Lsi Logic Corporation | Interprocessor communications data transfer and error detection in a multiprocessing environment |
US5964891A (en) * | 1997-08-27 | 1999-10-12 | Hewlett-Packard Company | Diagnostic system for a distributed data access networked system |
US6195682B1 (en) * | 1998-10-27 | 2001-02-27 | International Business Machines Corporation | Concurrent server and method of operation having client-server affinity using exchanged client and server keys |
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20060248139A1 (en) * | 1999-12-01 | 2006-11-02 | Intel Corporation | Networked computer management with a mobile software agent |
US20020002672A1 (en) * | 2000-06-19 | 2002-01-03 | Alcatel | Method of rebooting terminals connected to a local area network and devices for implementing the method |
US6687496B1 (en) * | 2000-08-02 | 2004-02-03 | Intel Corporation | Memory programming method and system |
US20020087483A1 (en) * | 2000-12-29 | 2002-07-04 | Shlomi Harif | System, method and program for creating and distributing processes in a heterogeneous network |
US20020087881A1 (en) * | 2000-12-29 | 2002-07-04 | Shlomi Harif | System, method and program for identifying and binding a process in a heterogeneous network |
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